Project Mentor: Professor Antigoni Papadimitriou, Management
2025 Impact Fellows:
Grace Alto '26
Meghan Wiebe '28
Project Description:
It is well established that entrepreneurship is a critical tool to fuel the economic development of local communities. However, not all sectors of businesses are equally supported or represented in many entrepreneurship schemes. Creative Industries are typically defined as those associated with art, theatre, fashion, dance, TV/radio, design, galleries, crafting, antiques, photographers, industrial design, multimedia fields, cuisine, etc. These are businesses which generate spillover effects for other parts of the economy associated with quality of life, the "image" of cities, regions, and for tourism. Creative Industries contribute to regional, city, and community development and are instrumental in building social fulfillment and contributing to economic growth. The Lehigh Valley has achieved high levels of economic redevelopment and reinvention since the demise of Bethlehem Steel nearly a quarter-century ago, partly by building supportive structures for the development of local entrepreneurs. However, it has not been enough to turn Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and the greater Lehigh Valley into a true hub for entrepreneurs in those vital creative industries.
While it is essential to provide more and stronger support for those creative industries, there is a shortage of research and tested solutions for accomplishing this goal. This project, then, will actively explore pathways to identify core elements for ecosystem changes, and ultimately propose a system to support entrepreneurs in the Lehigh Valley's creative industries. Students on this project will engage in formal and informal learning experiences and hands-on training throughout. All majors are welcome and encouraged to apply.